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How much cash do you need on day one? Deposit rules, agency fees, guarantor requirements, lease terms, and short-term rental legality — country by country. Don’t get caught short.
Deposit rules, lease norms, neighborhoods, rent ranges, and first-month cash breakdowns for 7 major expat cities. Completely free.
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How many months of rent you need upfront — deposit, agency fee, and first month combined.
| Country | Deposit | Agency Fee | Guarantor? | First-Month Cash | Lease Term | Furnished? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇵🇹 Portugal | 2 months | 1 months | No | 4× rent | 12 months | Yes (+20%) |
| 🇪🇸 Spain | 2 months | 1 months | No | 4× rent | 12 months | Yes (+15%) |
| 🇫🇷 France | 1 months | 0.5 months | ⚠️ Yes | 2.5× rent | 36 months | Yes (+25%) |
| 🇮🇹 Italy | 3 months | 1 months | No | 5× rent | 48 months | Uncommon |
| 🇦🇪 Dubai (UAE) | 1 months | 0.5 months | No | 6× rent | 12 months | Yes (+20%) |
| 🇹🇭 Thailand | 2 months | None | No | 3× rent | 12 months | Yes (+0%) |
| 🇲🇽 Mexico | 1 months | 1 months | ⚠️ Yes | 4× rent | 12 months | Yes (+20%) |
| 🇮🇩 Bali (Indonesia) | 0 months | None | No | 12× rent | 12 months | Yes (+0%) |
| 🇬🇷 Greece | 2 months | 1 months | No | 4× rent | 36 months | Yes (+20%) |
| 🇩🇪 Germany | 3 months | None | ⚠️ Yes | 4× rent | Indefinite | Uncommon |
| 🇳🇱 Netherlands | 2 months | 1 months | No | 4× rent | 12 months | Yes (+15%) |
| 🇨🇷 Costa Rica | 1 months | 1 months | No | 3× rent | 36 months | Yes (+10%) |
| 🇨🇴 Colombia | 0 months | None | ⚠️ Yes | 2× rent | 12 months | Yes (+15%) |
| 🇯🇵 Japan | 2 months | 1 months | ⚠️ Yes | 5× rent | 24 months | Uncommon |
| 🇹🇷 Turkey | 1 months | 1 months | No | 3× rent | 12 months | Uncommon |
| 🇲🇾 Malaysia | 2 months | None | No | 3.5× rent | 12 months | Yes (+15%) |
| 🇸🇬 Singapore | 2 months | 1 months | No | 4× rent | 24 months | Yes (+10%) |
| 🇵🇦 Panama | 1 months | 1 months | No | 3× rent | 12 months | Yes (+15%) |
Deposit: Typically 2 months rent (max 2 by law). Returned at lease end.
Agency: 1 month rent + VAT (23%). Paid by tenant.
Guarantor: Not standard. Some landlords request for non-residents.
Standard lease: 12 months, 2 months notice
First month total: First month rent + 2 months deposit + Agency fee (1 month)
Deposit: 1 month legally mandated (fianza). Most landlords ask 2.
Agency: 1 month rent typical. Tenant pays in most regions.
Guarantor: Aval bancario (bank guarantee) sometimes requested from non-residents.
Standard lease: 12 months, 1 months notice
First month total: First month rent + 2 months deposit + Agency fee
Deposit: Max 1 month (unfurnished) or 2 months (furnished) by law.
Agency: Capped by law: max €12/m² for viewing/documents. Split tenant/landlord.
Guarantor: Garant required. Non-residents use Visale (state guarantee) or bank guarantee.
Standard lease: 36 months, 3 months notice
First month total: First month rent + 1 month deposit + Agency fee (~0.5 month)
Deposit: Typically 2-3 months (cauzione). No legal cap.
Agency: 1 month rent + 22% VAT. Paid by tenant.
Guarantor: Not standard but some landlords request for foreigners.
Standard lease: 48 months, 6 months notice
First month total: First month rent + 3 months deposit + Agency fee
Deposit: 5% of annual rent (unfurnished) or 10% (furnished) as security deposit.
Agency: 5% of annual rent. Paid by tenant.
Guarantor: No guarantor. But landlords require post-dated cheques (1, 4, 6, or 12).
Standard lease: 12 months, 3 months notice
First month total: First cheque (1-12 months) + 5% deposit + 5% agency fee + DEWA connection ~AED 2,000 + Ejari registration AED 220
Deposit: Typically 2 months. Some premium condos ask 3.
Agency: Landlord pays agent. No tenant fee in most cases.
Guarantor: Not required.
Standard lease: 12 months, 1 months notice
First month total: First month rent + 2 months deposit
Deposit: 1 month deposit typical. Some landlords ask 2.
Agency: 1 month rent. Can be higher in tourist areas.
Guarantor: Mexican guarantor (fiador) with property often required. Non-residents: extra deposit instead.
Standard lease: 12 months, 1 months notice
First month total: First month rent + 1 month deposit + Agency fee + Aval/guarantor fee if applicable
Deposit: Leases typically paid upfront (6 months or 1 year). No separate deposit.
Agency: Landlord pays agent in most villa rentals.
Guarantor: Not required.
Standard lease: 12 months, 1 months notice
First month total: Full year rent upfront (standard) + Or 6 months minimum
Deposit: 2 months standard. Often negotiable to 1 month for longer leases.
Agency: 1 month rent, typically paid by tenant.
Guarantor: Not standard. Landlords may request employer letter for non-EU tenants.
Standard lease: 36 months, 1 months notice
First month total: First month rent + 2 months deposit + Agency fee (1 month)
Deposit: Maximum 3 months cold rent (Kaltmiete) by law (§551 BGB). Must be held in separate deposit account (Kautionskonto). Can be paid in 3 installments.
Agency: Bestellerprinzip since 2015 — whoever commissions the agent pays. For rentals, this means the LANDLORD pays. Tenant pays zero agent fee.
Guarantor: Mietschuldenfreiheitsbescheinigung (rent-free debt certificate from previous landlord) often required. For foreigners: employer guarantee letter or Bürgschaft from German resident. Some landlords accept 6 months prepaid rent instead.
Standard lease: Indefinite (unbefristet), 3 months notice
First month total: First month rent (Warmmiete) + 3 months deposit (Kaltmiete) + No agency fee (landlord pays)
Deposit: 1-2 months standard. No legal maximum but 2 months is norm.
Agency: Makelaar fee: 1 month rent + VAT. Some listings are direct from landlord (no fee). Pararius and Funda have both.
Guarantor: Employer letter and last 3 payslips typically required. International companies often provide corporate guarantees.
Standard lease: 12 months, 1 months notice
First month total: First month rent + 2 months deposit + Agency fee (1 month + VAT)
Deposit: 1 month standard. Refundable at lease end minus damages.
Agency: 1 month rent if using agent. Many direct rentals available (no fee).
Guarantor: Not standard for foreigners. Landlords may request 2-3 months advance rent instead.
Standard lease: 36 months, 3 months notice
First month total: First month rent + 1 month deposit + Agency fee (1 month, if applicable)
Deposit: No traditional deposit. Instead, fiador (guarantor with property) or póliza de arrendamiento (insurance policy, ~40% of monthly rent) is required.
Agency: No agency fee for tenants. Landlord pays commission.
Guarantor: Colombian guarantor (fiador) with property required by law. Alternative: arrendamiento insurance policy (~40% monthly rent, paid annually). Foreigners typically use the insurance option.
Standard lease: 12 months, 3 months notice
First month total: First month rent + Arrendamiento insurance (40% of monthly rent) + No deposit, no agency fee
Deposit: Shikikin (敷金): 1-2 months refundable deposit. Reikin (礼金): 0-2 months non-refundable 'key money' (gift to landlord). Total upfront: 3-6 months rent.
Agency: Chukai tesuryo (仲介手数料): 1 month rent + 10% consumption tax. Legally capped at 1 month.
Guarantor: Guarantor company (保証会社 hoshō gaisha) required for almost all rentals. Cost: 50-100% of first month rent upfront + renewal fee. This replaces personal guarantor for foreigners.
Standard lease: 24 months, 1 months notice
First month total: First month rent + Shikikin 1-2 months + Reikin 0-1 month + Agency fee 1 month + Guarantor company fee (50-100% monthly rent) + Fire insurance (¥15,000-20,000)
Deposit: 1 month deposit (depozito) standard. Returned at lease end minus damages. No legal cap but 1 month is norm.
Agency: 1 month rent commission (komisyon). Paid by tenant. Some direct-from-owner listings on Sahibinden.com avoid fee.
Guarantor: Not standard. Landlords may request proof of income or employment contract. Foreigners with residence permit generally accepted.
Standard lease: 12 months, 1 months notice
First month total: First month rent + 1 month deposit + Agency fee (1 month)
Deposit: 2 months security deposit + 0.5 month utility deposit standard. Required by convention, not statute.
Agency: Landlord pays agent commission (typically 1 month rent). Tenant pays zero agency fee.
Guarantor: Not required. Foreigners with valid visa/work permit accepted. Some landlords request employer letter.
Standard lease: 12 months, 2 months notice
First month total: First month rent + 2 months security deposit + 0.5 month utility deposit + No agency fee (landlord pays)
Deposit: 2 months for 2-year lease, 1 month for 1-year lease. Held by landlord, returned at end minus damages/cleaning.
Agency: 1 month rent for 2-year lease, 0.5 month for 1-year lease. Tenant pays own agent. Landlord pays own agent separately.
Guarantor: Not required. Landlords verify employment pass/work permit validity. Corporate leases common for expats.
Standard lease: 24 months, 2 months notice
First month total: First month rent + 2 months security deposit + Agent fee (1 month for 2-year lease) + Stamp duty (~0.4% of total rent)
Deposit: 1 month security deposit standard. Refundable at lease end. Some premium buildings request 2 months.
Agency: 1 month rent typical. Paid by tenant. Many direct-from-owner listings in expat areas (Encuentra24.com).
Guarantor: Not required for foreigners. Landlords may request passport copy and proof of income. Pensionado visa holders readily accepted.
Standard lease: 12 months, 1 months notice
First month total: First month rent + 1 month deposit + Agency fee (1 month, if applicable)
Planning to Airbnb your property? Check legality first — rules vary dramatically by city.
| City | Status | License | Day Limit | Enforcement | Key Restriction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇵🇹 Lisbon | ⚠️ Restricted | Alojamento Local (AL) | None | strict | New AL licenses suspended in some parishes |
| 🇵🇹 Porto | ⚠️ Restricted | Alojamento Local (AL) | None | moderate | AL containment zones in historic center |
| 🇵🇹 Algarve | ✅ Legal | Alojamento Local (AL) | None | moderate | Generally open outside containment zones |
| 🇪🇸 Barcelona | ❌ Banned | HUT (Habitatge d'ús turístic) | Banned | strict | All 10,101 existing HUT licenses expire by Nov 2028 |
| 🇪🇸 Malaga | ⚠️ Restricted | VFT (Vivienda con fines turísticos) | None | strict | 3-year city-wide moratorium on new licenses (2025) |
| 🇪🇸 Marbella | ✅ Legal | VFT | None | moderate | Community of owners approval required nationally (2026) |
| 🇪🇸 Mallorca | ⚠️ Restricted | ETV/ETVPL | None | strict | New temporary licenses from Jun 2025 (moratorium lifted) |
| 🇫🇷 Paris | ⚠️ Restricted | Meublé de tourisme | 120 days/yr | strict | 120-day limit for primary residences only |
| 🇫🇷 Nice | ⚠️ Restricted | Meublé de tourisme | 120 days/yr | moderate | Same 120-day rule as Paris for primary residences |
| 🇮🇹 Rome | ✅ Legal | CIN (Codice Identificativo Nazionale) | None | moderate | National CIN registration required (2024) |
| 🇮🇹 Florence | ⚠️ Restricted | CIN | None | strict | Historic center (Zone A) ban on new STR licenses since 2023 |
| 🇦🇪 Dubai | ✅ Legal | DTCM Holiday Home Permit | None | moderate | Must use licensed operator or self-manage with permit |
| 🇹🇭 Bangkok | ❓ Gray area | Hotel license | None | lax | Technically requires hotel license for <30 day stays |
| 🇹🇭 Phuket | ❓ Gray area | Hotel license | None | lax | Same hotel license technically required |
| 🇮🇩 Bali | ❓ Gray area | Pondok Wisata / TDUP | None | moderate | Technically requires tourism license (Pondok Wisata) |
| 🇲🇽 Mexico City | ⚠️ Restricted | RLAT | None | moderate | Increasing regulation of platforms |
| 🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen | ✅ Legal | No | None | lax | Minimal regulation currently |
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The information on this page is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, financial, or real estate advice. Property laws, tax rules, and market conditions change frequently. Always consult qualified local professionals before making property decisions.